12-Wie Weit
Apocalyptica Lyrics

The lyrics of Apocalyptica's song "12 - Wie Weit" (which translates to "12 - How Far") speak to the feeling of being trapped in a monotonous and stagnant life, unable to break free from the endless circle of routine. The lyrics use imagery of a never-ending circle, labeled as the circle of eternity, to represent the feeling of being stuck in the same place for all time. The opening lines describe just how mundane and routine the singer's life has become. The following lines suggest that despite being aware of this monotony and feeling like they are trapped in it, they can't help but feel like they're a constant guest in this existence. Continuing on, the lyrics suggest that material possessions such as the gold of the world hold no value, as they do not fill the emptiness and longing the singer feels within themselves.

The chorus asks the question of how much the singer must undergo to finally see an end to their despair, to feel something beyond hopelessness. The second verse of "12 - Wie Weit" delves more deeply into the singer's feelings of helplessness, loneliness, and despair. The imagery of being "stretched out on the floor like paralyzed" gives a picture of someone who cannot muster the strength to get up and make a change. The idea that something so simple as their own rules can be their worst enemy speaks to the conflict and struggle that comes with wanting to break free of the cycle while being unable to do so. The chorus is repeated, with the questions of the second half asking how great the singer's longing is and whether they should give up or continue on despite feeling cursed.

As for the interesting facts about "12 - Wie Weit," the song was released in 2015 as part of Apocalyptica's album "Shadowmaker." The band originated in Finland and is known for their unique style that includes cellos heavily featuring in their music. The band had occasionally included vocals on their previous albums but not to the extent that they did on "Shadowmaker." Franky Perez, an American singer, partnered with Apocalyptica to provide his voice for several of the tracks on the album, including "12 - Wie Weit." The lyrics were written by Eicca Toppinen, who is one of the founder members of the band.

Another interesting fact about the making of "12 - Wie Weit" is that there are multiple versions of the lyrics in circulation. While the version analyzed in this interpretation is the official one provided in the album's booklet, there is at least one recorded instance of Perez singing slightly different lyrics than those written by Toppinen. The song's music video features an unknown actress performing a dance piece alone in a vast space, mirroring the sense of feeling alone and distanced that the lyrics suggest. The music video was directed by the director known for another Finnish band's music video, HIM's Ville Juurikkala.

Additionally, "Shadowmaker" marks the first time in the band's career that an outside producer was brought in to help shape the album's sound. Nick Raskulinecz, an American record producer, was chosen for the role and worked with the band to create their vision for the album. "Shadowmaker" also represented Apocalyptica's first fully instrumental track in a number of years, as they had been featuring more vocal-heavy songs in their recent output.

As for the chords of the song, the instrumental parts are largely in the key of A minor, with a relatively straightforward progression throughout. The chorus features a shift between chords of Fmajor and Eminor, giving the listener a sense of a push and pull, a sense of tension that gives life to the desperation found in the lyrics. The combination of uniquely created music with relatable lyrics in "12 - Wie Weit" allowed it to become another memorable song for Apocalyptica.

Chords:
Intro/Verse/Chorus: Am, G, Dm
Bridge: F, G, Am, F, G, Am